Colorectal cancer isn't always preventable, especially when you have a family history or significant risk factors – but you can get early screening done to lower the risk of the disease progressing.
If you're 45 or older, it's essential to take your health seriously and get a colon cancer screening test. But which option is right for you? Take the time to talk to your doctor about your risk for colon cancer and your overall health.
At Gateway Gastroenterology in Chesterfield, St. Louis, and Ballwin, Missouri, our team specializes in diseases of the GI tract, including colorectal cancer. Our gastroenterologists offer colonoscopies and other diagnostic tests to find colon cancer early for optimal treatment.
Colon cancer is a silent disease that often doesn't show signs until it's too late, which is why screenings are essential to your health. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, people between 45 and 75 should have regular colon cancer screenings.
You may need to have a screening done earlier if you are at a higher risk for colorectal cancer. Some of the significant risk factors for colon cancer include:
Having a familial history of colon cancer also increases your risk of the disease significantly. You can modify some of the above risk factors through lifestyle changes, while others are out of your control.
You should begin colon cancer screenings at 45, earlier if you have symptoms or a medical history that could put you at risk. At that initial screening, we discuss how often you require screenings based on your overall health and lifestyle.
You have a few options when it comes to colon cancer screening. You've likely heard of a colonoscopy, a procedure that allows us to look into your rectum and intestines to find cancerous changes.
However, other options are available, especially if you're not at high risk for colon cancer. Stool tests are an option for people who don't necessarily need a colonoscopy because they have a low risk of cancer.
Different forms of the stool test exist, but most look for signs of cancer, such as blood in the stool sample. You can do the test in the comfort of your home, but because it's not invasive, we need to do it more often than a colonoscopy.
Invasive screening tests include a colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy. The colonoscopy is the gold standard of colon cancer screening because it allows us to see all the intestines and rectum to find signs of cancer.
During a colonoscopy, you're under sedation, so you don't feel anything. When you're comfortable, our team inserts the scope into your rectum, which has a light and camera attached to the end.
We then slowly advance the scope through the intestines and take samples along the way if needed. During the colonoscopy, we can remove polyps or other growths as necessary. The best news is that you can go home the same day and have your results within the week.
At your initial screening appointment, our team takes your height, weight, and vital signs to establish a baseline of your health. We then discuss your medical history and family history to determine which type of colon cancer screening test is best for you.
The best way to find colon cancer is through a colonoscopy. Our team recommends this method for an accurate picture of your gastrointestinal health. It's a procedure that requires sedation, so you need a ride to and from the procedure.
Eat a low-fiber diet a few days before the colonoscopy to ensure your bowel clears out. We also tell you how to perform a bowel prep, which typically involves taking stool softeners and a laxative one to two days before the procedure.
While taking the bowel prep, it's essential to drink fluids with electrolytes to counteract the diarrhea the laxatives cause. You can also consume a liquid diet containing sodium and other vitamins to prevent dehydration.
On the day of the colonoscopy, you change into a gown. After starting an IV, we take you into the exam room, where you lie on your side on a gurney. Once we sedate you, we insert the scope into the rectum and advance it slowly through the intestines.
We can see everything in the intestines, including polyps, cell changes, or areas that could indicate cancer. Our team takes pictures along the way so we can show you at your follow-up appointment.
If you're ready to get a colon cancer screening, don't hesitate to contact Gateway Gastroenterology today. Call us or request a consultation with our doctors on the website.